“No” to thematic and sonic continuity. No to cohesion, at least for the time being.

Oates — who (news flash!) has penned giant radio hits including “Sara Smile,” “She’s Gone” and “Maneater” and sold more than 80 million albums as part of Hall & Oates, the most commercially successful duo in rock history — is releasing one digital single each month through his www.johnoates.com website as part of his “Good Road To Follow” project. The songs are all over the stylistic map, though many of them are aided by the middle portion of Tennessee’s map.

The Nashville pop-rock foursome - who've hit it big on Top 40 with "Tonight Tonight," "I Like it Like That" and new single "Hung Up" - have hit the road with Bieber, and play the first of many arenas with the Canadian crooner on June 22 in San Diego.

HCR will stay on Bieber's "Believe" tour through August 5 and are wrapping up work on a new studio album set for release later this year.

Here's yet another sign that Nashville's Hot Chelle Rae are certified pop stars: their new hit, "I Like It Like That," is getting the Kidz Bop treatment - and the band will have a hand in its recording. The Kidz Bop version - featuring the "Kidz Bop Kids" singing the tune along with Hot Chelle Rae - will hit iTunes on January 17 and coincide with the release of KIDZ BOP 21. Yep, that's the 21st volume of kid-friendly pop covers released since the series began in 2001.

Hot Chelle Rae are also calling on fans to submit their own video performances of "I Like It Like That" for a "Super Contest." Winning performances will be included in a new music video for the Kidz Bop version of the song, which is also slated to premiere on January 17. Videos can be submitted at www.kidzbop.com.

It's easy to get a Hot Chelle Rae song stuck in your head. It's not so easy to write one.

The breezy lyrics and infectious melodies that have come to define the pop band might seem simple, but guitarist Nash Overstreet says there's an art to coming up with uncomplicated hooks that compel everyone to sing along.

"When you really get into it and you investigate the whole writing craft, you realize how difficult it is to write something so simple and so memorable that everybody in the country can know it as soon as you sing two lines from it," said Overstreet, 25. "We've learned so much through this process, honing that skill and learning from producers and co-writers. We've just had a ball doing it."

"There's a lot of sacrifices you make for the better of the song," added drummer Jamie Follese, 19. "I won't necessarily get to play the most crazy drum part, but it makes the song a lot better."

The four friends from Nashville, Tenn., formed Hot Chelle Rae six years ago. They burst onto the scene this year, selling over 2 million copies of their smash hit "Tonight Tonight," and dominating radio airplay with their follow up single "I Like It Like That." They've been touring non-stop and were recently named new artist of the year at the American Music Awards. The band released a new album, Whatever, Nov. 29.

No, really -- that's the name of the Nashville pop/rock band's sophomore album, which hits stores via RCA Records on November 29. It's HCR's first full-length release since their breakthrough song "Tonight, Tonight" became one of the biggest pop singles of the summer, reaching double platinum status in the U.S.

They're now looking to repeat that success with follow-up single "I Like It Like That," a similarly sunny tune that features a turn from rap duo New Boyz. Whatever also includes guest spots from teen pop star Demi Lovato and R&B songsmith Bei Maejor.

In addition to being nominated for best new artist at next month's American Music Awards, the band has booked a TV blitz around Whatever's release. They'll appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Today, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and LIVE! with Regis and Kelly in late November. A headlining U.S. is in the cards for early 2012, before the band heads to Australia in March for an arena tour with Taylor Swift.

“It wigged us all out,” the frontman for Nashville pop/rock group Hot Chelle Rae says.

It’s yet another indicator of the monster hit HCR has on their hands with “Tonight, Tonight.” The carefree, dancefloor-friendly tune has gone platinum, with over one million downloads and a video with more than 13 million views on YouTube.

The band has spent their summer on tour, and Follese says they’ve been able trace the song’s success through their crowd’s reaction — and size. At this point, he says, “I don’t even have to sing a word. They know every single line, every adlib, it’s just amazing.”

Last month, the band brought the tune to a sold-out Staples Center in L.A. (as guests of Taylor Swift). One day later, they were making friends with Katy Perry and Kanye West at the MTV Video Music Awards. Next up on the pinch-me list: their biggest hometown show yet, opening for the Script Friday night (Sept. 9) at the Ryman Auditorium. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets ($29.50-$39.50) are still available.

Soon after, there’s a new single, “I Like It Like That” (featuring hip-hop duo New Boyz), followed later this year by a sophomore album that the band hopes has legs.

“God willing, we’d love to go five, six singles on this album,” Follese says. “We feel like we have the songs to do it.”

Even with the A-list guest appearances Swift's tour has boasted recently (and her love of "Super Bass" being public knowledge), we weren't expecting Minaj to pop up on Swift's stage Sunday night - particularly because she was pretty busy that evening, picking up the VMA for best hip-hop video and all. The odd couple joined forces for a duet of "Super Bass" at the concert, and Minaj thanked Taylor for "starting this 'Super Bass' frenzy."Continue reading →

Local rock outfit Hot Chelle Rae unveiled the new video for single "Tonight Tonight," and it offers a couple of fun bits of visual interest for fans of the band and/or hit TV show Glee.

The bouncy dance-rock tune's video pits HCR singer R.K. Follese -- who, along with brother/drummer Jamie Follese, is done up in funny/charming office-nerd wear -- against Glee heartthrob Chord Overstreet, who portrays a ladyfriend-stealing kissing Casanova. The band had an in in scoring one of the TV behemoth's stars -- Hot Chelle Rae guitarist Nash Overstreet is Chord's brother.